The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-30
RULE OR RUIN In ERIN.
a REFUSAL TO CHANGE THE WORD
OFFENSE TO CRIME.

The Amendment Proposed by Mr..
Healy and Supported by Messrs.
Dillon, Bradlaugh and Gladstone
The Governments Majority 81 in a
Total Vote of 277.
LONDON, April 29.--The House of Com
mons this afternoon went into committee
on the Irish crimes act amendment bill. r.
NJ Healy proposed that the word ''offense"
in the act should be changed to the word
crime"
Messls. Dillon and Bradlaugh supported
the proposal
Mr.. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland,
declined, on behalf of the government, to
accept the change.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt said it was
evident that the bill was not intended to
punish crime in Ireland, but was designed
for applying penalties to resident magis-
trates for the new oifenses created by the
bill
Mr. Gladstone advised the government to
concede Mr.. Healy's amendment. The
word "offense" could not be held to be
in the bill. If the government desired
strictly legal Use of the measure, they
would accept accurate definitions.
Division was taken and the amendment
was defeated by vote of 157 TO 100.
RETRosPEcTIoN OPPOSED.
Dr. Commins, member for South Roccom-
mon QLiberaD, moved that the crimes act
should not be retrospective.
Mr.. Healy, in supporting the motion, said
he would advise his countrymen TO refuse
to answer summons under the clause if the
act were made retrospective.
The Attorney General and Solicitor Gen
eral both spoke in opposition to the amend
ment. They said the bill was only intended
to detect and punish crime.
Sir Henry James, Liberal Unionists, sug-
gested that words be inserted stating that
inquiries in past offenses shall be limited TO
cases of felony and nisdemeanor.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, Liberal.
congratulated the government upon the as
sistance it was receiving from one of its
principal supporters. The Unionists are
of some good, at least, he exclaimed, which
remark was greeted with much laughter.
MR.. SMITHS OFFER.
William Henry Smith said that if Sir
Henry James were not satisfied with the
governments assurances that they would ap-
ply the act fairly they would introduce
words pledging that the operation of the
clause would be confined TO the limits previ-
ously announced.
DR.. Commins, on suggestion Of Sir Will
liam Vernon HarcouIt, offered to withdraw
his amendment in order to give the govern
ment time for consideration, but he was not
allowed to do so.
Mr. Dillon thought the government was
unreasonable in insisting upon division,
and Mr.. Healy took the same view.
Mr. Balfour, Chief Secretary for Ireland,
said it would be open to the committee later
to raise the question on Mr Smiths promise
DR.. Commins' amendment was then mega
tived without division.
HARRINGTON TO PRESIDE.
The Marquis of Harrington will preside at
the meeting of the Liberal Unionists called
to assemble here tomorrow to consider GER
tain proposed amendments to the Irish
crimes act amendment bill. principal among
which is one doing away with or greatly
modifying the clause permitting the crown
to change venue to England in certain classes
Of Irish cases
At meeting of the Parnellite members of
Parliament to-day it was decided TO cancel
all engagements likely to interfere with
Parliamentary work in order that the mem
bers may devote their exclusive attention to
their Legislative duties.
In the division in the House of Commons
last night on Mr.. Reid's motion that the
House decline to proceed with any measure
directed against tenants combining for re-
lief until full measure for their relief from
excessive rents was presented, three
Liberal Unionists voted with the minority
against the government and nineteen
Liberal Uniouists were absent and not
paired.